updated 01:20 pm EST, Mon November 3, 2008

Verizon axeing cheap data?

Verizon may soon force its smartphone customers to spend more on data than has previously been required, an alleged leak indicates. A document states that as of November 14th, buyers of smartphones (and PDAs) will be expected to subscribe to a data plan worth at least $30 per month. This would eliminate several options the carrier currently supports, including a 10MB block, and the Pay As You Go plans, which enable incremental data charges.

The document also identifies "select Mobile Web 2.0 devices" as expected to require data plans beginning in 2009. Which products these may entail is unknown, as Verizon distinguishes them from Palm, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile phones. It is also unclear why Verizon would pressure people into accepting more expensive options, other than increasing profits and/or offsetting network costs.